Draft-gear for railway-cars.



T. L. MoKEEN.

DRAFT GEAR FOR RAILWAY CARS.

APPLICATION III-ED HALB, 1909.

Patented Aug. 2, 1910.

2 SHEETS-8HEBT 1.

1. L'. M KEEN. DRAFT GEAR FOR RAILWAY CARS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.5, 1909.

- Patented Aug. 2, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS L. McKEEN, OF EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

DRAFT-GEAR FOB RAILWAY-CARS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS L. MOKEEN,

' a citizen of the United States, residing at Easton, 1n the county of Northampton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Draft-Gears for Railway-Cars, of which the following is a 7 and bufling shocks. My prior gears of this tively great resistance and long travel of the drawbar.

The primary object of the invention is to still further improve gears of this character by a novel combination and arrangement of the coil and leaf sprin s whereby, without materially increasing the size and cost of the gear, the travel of the drawbar is lengthened andv a resistance is obtained which is light at the commencement of movement of the drawbar and builds up or increases very gradually and steadily to a maximum resistance of high capacity as the movement of the drawbar continues, so .as to greatly improve the, action of the gear in absorbing or cushioning the strains and shocks on the drawbar.

Another object of the invention is to improve gears of this type in the other respects hereinafter described and set forth in the claims. In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets: Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a-draft and bufling gear embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view thereof. 3 is a cross sectional elevation thereof in line 33, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view similar to Fig. 2, of a modified construction. Fig. 5 is a cross sectional elevation thereof.

Specification of Letters Patent.

, Application filed March 5, 1909.

Patented Aug. 2, 1910.

Serial No. 481,334.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the rear or inner end of a drawbar, a the usual yoke secured to and extending rearwardly therefrom. B the car draft sills or beams, and b b respectively the front and rear, or outer and inner follower stops on the draft sills. These parts can be of any usual or suitable construction.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1-3, G and D represent respectively movable front and rear, or outer and inner followers, which, as usual, extend transversely through the yoke a and normally bear at their sides respectively against the front and rear follower stops 2) 1). One of the followers, preferably the front one C, may consist of an ordinary rectangular plate, but the other, or rear, follower is preferably hollow or in the form of a box, having an open front end anda rear end wall (Z.

E represents a coil spring which is arranged in the yoke, bearing against the front follower O. This spring is preferably of the standard double coil type used in spring draft gears, but it is not necessary to the invention to use this particular sort of a spring and other coil springs could be employed.

F and G represent two leaf springs arranged transversely of the gear in the rear box follower D, and each composed of a plurality of bowed leaves or spring plates. The former gears mentioned embody the box follower with transverse leaf springs therein in combination with a coil spring, but the leaf springs are arranged and coact with the coil spring in the present gear in a different manner, as will now be described. The ends of the leaf spring G bear against the end wall (Z of the box follower at the opposite sides thereof, and all of the leaves of this spring face the same way, that is, their convex sides face forwardly, but the other leaf spring F consists of two sets of spring plates arranged oppositely, or with their concave faces toward each other, and bearing at their ends against the opposite faces of the ends of a movable separating or bearing plate j which is located between them. The inner face of the end wall (5 of the box follower D is preferably convexed transversely to prevent the leaf spring bearing thereon from being straightened out under strain enough to become set, and the opposite faces of the separating plate f are also made convexfor the same purpose. The leaf springs F and G bear centrally of their convex sides upon each other.

H and I represent two movable intermediate followers or plates which are arranged in the open end of the box follower D be tween the coil spring E and the leaf spring F. The follower I bears onthe centralconvex portion of the leaf spring F and the inner end of the coil spring bears on the follower H'. The follower or plate H is provided with flanges h adapted to engage the openend of the box follower D forlimiting the relative movement between these parts and for'causing the follower H to move with the box follower when the latter is drawn forwardly. A; thrust bari arrangedto move longitudinally in the coil spring and a cen' tral hole 1" in the follower H is adapted to transmit pressure from the front follower C to the leaf'springs in the box follower D when the front follower is moved rearwardly in bufling or the box follower is moved forwardly in drawing. This'bar is conveniently formed integrally with the follower I, but this is not necessary:

The operation of the gear is as follows: The leaf spring F is stiffer or has greater resisting capacity than the coil spring. E, and the leaf spring G is stiffer than the leaf spring F. Vhen the drawbar is shoved rearwardly in bufling the rear box follower D is held'stat-ionary by its stops 6 and the front follower is moved rearwardly by the drawbar. The leaf" springs F and G each being stiffer than the coil' spring, resist movement of the intermediate followers H and I, and the coil spring yields at first with but little, if any, compression of the leaf springs, or movement of the intermediate followers. hen, however, the front follower engages the front end ofthe thrust bar 2' the pressure is transmitted directly to the leaf springs and the leaf spring F is compressed and permits the rearward movement of the intermediate followers H and I and the coil. spring E, without any further compression of the coil spring E, until the intermediate follower H is arrested by the engagement of its flanges h with the front endof the box follower D, when the further movement of the front follower C and the intermediate follower I still further compress the coil spring and the two leaf springs F and G, giving the maximum resistance. hen the drawbar is. pulled forwardly in drawing the car the front follower is held stationary by its stops Z) and the rear follower is pulled forwardly by the yoke, and the leaf springs and intermediate followers H and I operate to first compress the coil spring E and thenthe leaf springs F and Gr in the same manner as inbufling.

The arrangement of the leaves of the springFin oppositely facing sets gives twice the travel of the drawbar to obtain substantially the same resistance as from an equal number of leaves all facing the same way. Consequently by the described arrangement, the spring resistance to the movement of the drawbar is light at first and builds up or increases very radually during a considerable travel of the drawbar. The movement permitted between the intermediate follower H and the box follower D during which the coil spring is not compressed is in addition to the-travel permitted by the compression of the coil spring, which is as great as allowed bya coil spring of corresponding size in the ordinary coil spring gear. The convex faces of the end wall cl of the box follower and of the separating plate f'prevent the leaf sprin s from being strai htened out enough to hecome set, and the Ieaf springs are compressed against these stop faces and arrest the movement of the drawbar before the coil spring can be driven any other change in the gear, so t at by adding or removing a few sprin plates and altering the relative number of the sprin plates in the springs F and G the graduate( action and final maximum resistance of the gear, and also the travel of the drawbar, can be regulated, within limits, as may be desired. As the leaf spring G bears at its ends against the extreme side portions of the box follower D the pressure is transmitted to the follower stops 1)" close to the draft sills instead of at their outer edges, and there is therefore less tendency to twist the. stops off of the sills, and no tendency to bow or spring the rear follower, which can therefore be made lighter. The intermediate follower H is preferably connected to the box follower D by bolts K passing'loosely through holes in the flanges h of the follower H and flanges 7c atthe front end of the box follower. By tightening up these bolts the leaf springs in the box follower can be placed under'a slight initial tension, which facilitates placing .the parts in the yoke and prevents lost motionin theopera transverse bowed spring plates is rovided this follower. A movable plate or follower M is arranged in the open end of this front follower between and bearing a ainst the leaf spring L and the coil spring E. The plate has stop flanges m to engage the frontfollower and is connected thereto by bolts m for the same purpose as in the caseof the rearbox follower D in the first construction. The front leaf spring L is of greater strength than any of the other springs and is effective after the other sprin s have been strained to their limit.

This construction increases somewhat the length of the gear but adds greatly to the resisting capacity of the gear and also increases the travel of the drawbar. wise this construction is substantially like that above described.

I claim as invention:

1. The combination of a movable member, movable rigid followers, one of which is moved by the movement of said member in one direction, means by which the other follower is moved by the movement of said member in the opposite direction, stops for said followers, coil and leaf springs which are arranged one in advance of the other between said followers and resist the move ment of said member in either direction, said leaf spring having greater resisting capacity than said coil spring and consisting of two sets of bowed spring leaves arranged transversely of the direction of movement of said member with their concave faces toward each other, and means for applying pressure from said member to said leaf spring inde endently of said coil spring after a partial compression of said coil spring and then to both said coil and leaf springs, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a drawbar, two ri id end followers, one of which is moved by the movement of said drawbar in one direction, means by which the other follower is moved by the movement of said drawbar in the opposite direction, an intermediate follower, stops for the two end followers, a coil spring arranged between the intermedi= ate follower and one end follower, and a leaf spring arranged between the intermediate follow-er'and the other end follower and consisting of two sets of bowed spring leaves arranged with their concave faces toward each other and extendingtransversely of the direction of movement of said drawbar, and means for transmitting pressure from the mentioned end follower to said leaf spring independently of said coil spring after a partial compression of said coil spring, whereby both the coil and leaf spring-s resist the movement of said drawba'r in either direction and said coil spring is partially compressed and is then moved bodily during the compression or said leaf spring by the movement of the drawbar in one direction, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a drawbar, two

rigid end followers, one of which is moved 7 by the movement of said drawbar in one direction, means by which the other follower is moved by the movement of said drawbar in the opposite direction, an intermediate follower, stops for the two end followers, 2. v

coil spring arranged between the intermediate follower and one end follower, and a leaf spring having greater resisting capacity than said coil spring and arranged between i the intermediate follower and the other end 1 follower and consisting of two sets of bowed Otherspring leaves arranged with their concave faces toward each other and extending trans versely of the direction of movement of said drawbar, means for transmitting pressure from the first mentioned end follower to said leaf spring independently of said coil spring after a partir coil spring, and means for limiting the compression of said movement of said intermediate follower to Y prevent injury to the coil and leaf springs, whereby both the coil and leaf springs resist the movement of said drawbar in either direction and said coil spring is first partially compressed and is then moved bodily during the compression of said leaf spring by the movement of the drawbar in one direction, substantially asset forth.

a. The combination of a movable drawbar, movable rigid end followers, stops for said followers, a coil spring and a plurality of leaf springs arranged between said followers one in advance of the other with respect to the direction of movement of said drrwbar, said leaf springs extending tra'nsversely of thedirec'tion of movement of said drawbar and each having greater resisting capacity than said coil spring, one of said leaf springs having less resisting capacity than the other and consisting of two sets of pression of said leaf'springs by the movement of said drawbar'in one direction and is then further "compressed together with said leaf springs, substantially as set forth;

5. The combination of a drawbar, movable rigid end followers, one of which is moved by the movement of said drawbar in one direction, means by which the other follower is moved by'the movement of said drawbar the opposite direction, stops for 55 spring leaves arranged with their concave 1 said end followers, a coil spring and a plurality of leaf springs which are arranged between said followers one in advance of the other with respect to the direction of, movement of said drawbar and resist the movement of said drawbar in either direction, said leaf springs extending transversely of the direction of movement of said drawbar and each having greater resisting capacity than said coil spring, an intermediate follower which transmits pressure from one said drawbar in one direction, and means for limiting the compression of said leaf springs to prevent injury thereto, substantially as set forth.

. 6. The combination of'a movable member,

movable rigid end followers, one of which arranged between said coil and leaf springs is moved by the movement of said member in one direction, means by which the other follower is moved by the movement of said member in the opposite direction, stops for said followers, coil and leaf springs arranged one in advance of the other between said followers, said .leaf spring extending transversely of the direction ofmovement of said member, intermediate followers which are and are movable relative to said end followers and also relative to each other, and means for transmitting pressure directly from one end follower to one intermediate follower to compress said coil spring and lowers, coil and leaf springs arranged one in advance of the other between said followers, said leaf spring extending transversely of the direction of movement of said member and consisting of two sets of bowed faces toward each other, two movable intermediate followers which are arranged between said coil and leaf springs and respectively bear against said coil spring and said i leaf spring, and a thrust bar arranged between the intermediate follower which bears against said leaf spring and the end fol.-

8. The combination of a movable member, movable rigid end followers, stops for said followers, acoil sprin and a plurality of leaf springs arrange between said followers one in advance of the other with respect to the direction of movement of said member, said leaf springs extending transversely of the direction of movement of said member and each having greater resisting capacity than said coil sprlng, one of sai leaf springs having less resisting capacity than the other and consisting of two sets of bowed spring leaves arranged with their concave faces toward each other, two mov- 'able intermediate followers which are arranged between said coil spring and the adjacent leaf spring and respectively bear I against said coil spring and said leaf spring, and a thrust bar arranged between the intermediate follower which bears against said leaf spring and the end follower which is adjacent to said coil spring, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination of a movable member,

a coil spring and a lurality of leaf springs arranged one in a vance of the other for resisting the movement of said member, said leaf springs extending transversely of the direction of movement of said member and one of said leaf springs consisting of two sets of oppositely facing bowed spring leaves, a box containing said leaf springs, a movable follower against which said coil spring bears and which is adapted to engage said box to limit its movement, a second movable follower between said first follower and said leaf springs, and a thrust bar adapted to be moved by said member and to engage and move said second follower to compress said leaf springs, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination of a movable member, coil and leaf springs arranged one in advance of the other for resisting the movement of said member, said leaf spring extending transversely of the direction of movement of said member, a box containing said leaf springs, a movable follower arranged between said coil and leaf s rings and which is adapted to engage said x to limit its movement toward the box, and bolts loosely connecting said box and follower for limiting the movement of said follower away from said box, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination of a movable member, coil and leaf springs which are arfollowers which are arranged between said member and compression of said coil spring, 10 coil and leaf springs and are movable tosubstantially as set forth.

gether and also relative to each other, said Witness my hand, this 23rd day of Febcoil and leaf springs exerting pressure on ruary, 1909.

" said respective followers in o posite direc- T tions, and means for causing or fe of said fol- THOMAS MCKEEL lowers to apply pressure from said member Witnesses: to said leaf spring independently of said C. B. HORNBECK, coil spring after an initial movement of said O. W. PARKER. 

